United Kingdom People & Culture

My favourite city in the whole world - even though I live there - beautiful buildings - St Pauls Cathedral, Big Ben, Tower Bridge - Magical - Day or Night Dont go shopping in Oxford street though... too many people People watching over a cup of coffee in Covent Garden is great fun though

One of the big reasons I came to Ft. William was for Ben Nevis. If you're going to make an attempt up Ben Nevis, bear in mind what the weather is like. It may be a little cloudy at the base, but at the top visibility will likely be absolutely zero. There are a few cliff faces up near the top so step carefully if you can't see very far. Up at the top is the highest war memorial in Britain (as this is the highest peak). Leave an entire day for this one if you haven't really done a lot of climbing because it will be a workout. Bring a lot of water and food, too because you don't want to run out. All the way up, you'll ask people how much further it is and they always seem to reply "10 more minutes" even if it's another hour. Of course, you'll be donig the same thing when you come down. Legend has it that there is a monstrously large ghost that resides at the summit. It looks like the perfect place if you're up there when it's cold and rainy. This ghost is said to chase people back down the mountain. Beware

Unlike Edinburgh, Glasgow is the industrial centre of Scotland. Here you will see the latest trends and the movers and shakers of Scotland. This is a great place to use as a jumping off point for adventures up into the highlands and lake district of Scotland. Crime is a little higher here so keep an eye out. For the most part, though, the people here are always willing to be helpful when you need it. I suggest visiting Glasgow during the World Pipe Band Championships at the Glasgow Green, but that's just my personal taste. As a side note, there are fish and chip shops here that will let you bring in whatever food you want and for a fee they'll deep fry it for you. What an idea!

One of the best "things to do" at Cambridge is simply walking around the different colleges. I suggest you begin at the Round Church on Bridge Street, as from here you can embark on a stroll south along the most famous colleges. The Round Church is the second oldest building in Cambridge; dating back to 1130 when the Normans settled here from France. Just south of the Round Church is Sidney Sussex College, where Oliver Cromwell's head is said to be buried about two blocks from the Magic Joke Shop on Bridge Street. The rest of this walking tour proceeds south on St. John's Street. Note that this street will change names twice as you pass Trinity College and King's College before becoming Trumpington Street in front of Pembroke College. When you approach a college, you will see a person wearing purple standing at the entrance gate. The purple people are porters; trolls who seek tolls from tourists. When they ask you "Are you a member of the college?" the secret password is "Yes" as long as you are dressed like a preppy student or look like a professor. I wore a black pants and big wooly sweater on the day of my walk in anticipation of having a gauntlet of portentous porters inquire about my membership status. Highlights of the tour include the Bridge of Sighs at St. John's and the Mathematical Bridge at Queen's College. Each time you infiltrate past a porter you will want to see how far west you can go toward "The Backs" in order to see more of the magnificent architecture. For example, the King's College Chapel is best seen from behind. You can end your tour with a right turn at Mill Lane and a meal at Dojo Noodle Bar or continue south to Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street.

You can really get to know more about the place by staying at at B B. The people are very friendly. Remember there are no fast food places and most eating establishments close early.

The archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest part of the British Isles, lies 41 miles (66 kilometres) west of Benbecula in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Its islands with their exceptional cliffs and sea stacs form the most important seabird breeding station in north-west Europe. The evacuation of its native population in 1930 brought to a close an extraordinary story of survival. This site tells that story and also explains activities taking place today in this unique archipelago. Today, three organisations, The National Trust for Scotland , Scottish Natural Heritage and the MoD, work in partnership to further a continuing programme of conservation and research on the islands to ensure the care and protection of this World Heritage Site .

St Kilda was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986 in recognition of its Natural Heritage; for its exceptional natural beauty and for the significant natural habitats that it supports. In July 2004 this was extended to include the surrounding marine environment. In July 2005 further recognition for the islands cultural heritage was awarded making it one of only a few places in the world with Dual World Heritage Status for both its natural and cultural significance. In order to achieve this additional World Heritage Status, the Scottish Executive presented a revised nomination to UNESCO in February 2003 seeking further inscription under the Natural Heritage and Cultural Landscapes categories in recognition of the outstanding heritage in the waters surrounding the islands and the unique example of Scottish history and culture that the islands represent. You can read further information about the revised bid, and find a link to the entire Nomination document on the Nomination page . http://www.kilda.org.uk/

Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. Very multi-cultural.

Great friends and great brews, great pubs and great culture, great food and if you play your cards right, you can even get a tan there like I did.

I spent there few days, but very excited time indeed!!! To find the best place to stay look at www.hospitalityclub.org and www.couchsurfing.com Before You get to Natural History Museum, must first go at Greenwich and Marine Museum! If you're lucky to have sunny day then Thame sparkling like blue ribbon not awful grey water :-( About sighseeing.. oh there is so much to see and visit!!! Every corner in Old London has so much buildings to photograph if you're pro or armatour :-) Buses, telephone boxes, metro sighs.. Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben.. yeah many many more! Walking is hard but I enjoyed it, so many cultures over there, faces like you were on all of the world's sides! One of the best time to go is on the Halloween, i was there then and believe me people there gets so mad and crazy haha! Especially about Harry Potter :-) The best to get as souvenir.. hmm i think the cup, with the flag of Great Britain on it, i have one and got few for my friends and they still do remember i was there and fall in love with :-)

Very interesting City, very Multi-cultural. Don't go out on your own at night, if at all possible!

Britains most Northerly town Lerwick is a fascinating place at any time of year. In summer, its waterfront is brightened by yachts and cruise liners from ports around the North Atlantic. In winter, the harbour is a refuge for all kinds of craft and the twists and turns of Commercial Street defeat the wildest weather. The town had the humblest of beginnings as a scattering of huts along the shore occupied during the Dutch fishing season, but grew apace from the seventeenth century. Above the winding shoreline track which became Commercial Street, development was tightly packed into a patchwork of narrow lanes. In the 19th century, new docks to accommodate the fishing fleet were created to the north of the town. At Freefield, Hay's dock was the centre of Shetland's fishing industry and the largest ship built in Lerwick, the barque `North Briton', took to the water here in 1836. By the late 19th century, the more prosperous citizens were moving from the old part of town to flatter land west of the Hillhead and continued to expand to become a thriving and welcoming place of around 7,600 people serving all the 23,000 inhabitants of Shetland. There's a wide range of accommodation, a choice of good places to eat, pubs and clubs to suit most tastes and some of the most advanced indoor leisure facilities in Britain. Lerwick is also an excellent place to sample Shetland's internationally celebrated musical heritage. The islands are best known for their fiddle music, but there's a wealth of talent embracing a wide range of styles.

Nottingham has much to offer, from an excellent nightlife, a great live music scene fab shopping.

If ever in Swansea, visit the Monkey. It's a great mellow club in which you can listen to some bands that sing only in Welsh. And I don't mean folk music! They play all sorts of cool stuff.

smallish place but well worth a visit. close enough to inverness to pop back and forth and has an amazing music festival, loopallu

If you stay 2 days in London, you'll miss the point, if you stay 2 months, you get an idea, if you stay 2 years, it's too long. So here's my tips: clubbing: The End, proper, Guanabara, always a good time for everybody. Live music: dublin castle (indie/rock), slaughtered lamb (singer/songwriter). A laugh and a drink. The Enterprise, The Albion. All 3 things together? The Ain't nothing but blues bar in Kingly Street.

Unlike Edinburgh, Glasgow is the industrial centre of Scotland. Here you will see the latest trends and the movers and shakers of Scotland. This is a great place to use as a jumping off point for adventures up into the highlands and lake district of Scotland. Crime is a little higher here so keep an eye out. For the most part, though, the people here are always willing to be helpful when you need it. I suggest visiting Glasgow during the World Pipe Band Championships at the Glasgow Green, but that's just my personal taste. As a side note, there are fish and chip shops here that will let you bring in whatever food you want and for a fee they'll deep fry it for you. What an idea!

Achansheen is a great outpost for the Scottisch Highlands. A perfect starting point for a hike through the rough edges towards Clen Affric.

Here's what you do in Portrush: get up and pack a picnic lunch, walk out and throw a blankie down on the East Strand beach (late at night near the light house is gorgeous) - start walking east, you'll soon run out of beach but keep to the rocks and don't be afraid! after a few miles you'll see the famous rock formation that looks like a dude's face staring out to sea... soon after, the lovely stone arch... and then the jackpot, Dunluce Castle, one of the most beautiful and architecturally interesting castles in the entire world. You don't need to pay to get in, just circumnavigate the place and find a crack in the ruins ;) If you want to keep up the hike, about ten miles later you'll come to the Giant's Causeway, weird!!

Highly recommended if you love hiking and mountaineering in Scotland. Totally remote with fascinating and tricky terrain.

To the world, Cambridge is known for its university, regarded as one of the oldest and the best in the world. Dated back to the 13th century, University of Cambridge consist of several colleges, with breathtaking ancient architectures scattered mostly around the city centre area.

King's College is one of the most popular college attractions, while the gate of Trinity College displays the apple tree in which Issac Newton discovered his theory of gravity. Few minutes walk from King's College and you'll find 'The Eagle', a pub in which the structure of DNA was discovered by Francis Crick and James Watson in 1953. Not far from there, in Silver Street, you'll find the starting point for punting (a Gondola-like boat, a must-try experience) where you will stroke along the river Cam, passing the gorgeous medieval scenery and the many historical bridges, including the mathematical bridge in Queen's college that mark the city's name of Cam-Bridge.

Cambridge is also known for it's diversity. The numerous language schools, boarding schools, other universities and colleges makes it a very international student city. Bring a ball to Parker's Piece (one of the biggest and busiest parks, where legends has it that it's the place where football was invented) and few minutes later several people from different nationalities will introduce themselves and ask for a game of football (soccer). Visit the night clubs around the city centre area, and various world-themes will colour the night away. And there's always enough museums and activities to fulfill everybody's interests.

Youth hostels mostly scattered near the train station, while every 30 minutes (if I'm not mistaken) a public bus can take you to the city centre area from there. Alternatively, you can just walk to the city centre since It'll take only around 15-20 minutes to walk. Or if you really want to get the feel of the city, try to rent a bike... for me it's the best way to enjoy the city.

cosmopolitan and full of life!!

Buy a travel card - it will save a few quid when getting about.

My favourite city in the whole world - even though I live there - beautiful buildings - St Pauls Cathedral, Big Ben, Tower Bridge - Magical - Day or Night Dont go shopping in Oxford street though... too many people People watching over a cup of coffee in Covent Garden is great fun though

The archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest part of the British Isles, lies 41 miles (66 kilometres) west of Benbecula in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Its islands with their exceptional cliffs and sea stacs form the most important seabird breeding station in north-west Europe. The evacuation of its native population in 1930 brought to a close an extraordinary story of survival. This site tells that story and also explains activities taking place today in this unique archipelago. Today, three organisations, The National Trust for Scotland , Scottish Natural Heritage and the MoD, work in partnership to further a continuing programme of conservation and research on the islands to ensure the care and protection of this World Heritage Site .

St Kilda was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986 in recognition of its Natural Heritage; for its exceptional natural beauty and for the significant natural habitats that it supports. In July 2004 this was extended to include the surrounding marine environment. In July 2005 further recognition for the islands cultural heritage was awarded making it one of only a few places in the world with Dual World Heritage Status for both its natural and cultural significance. In order to achieve this additional World Heritage Status, the Scottish Executive presented a revised nomination to UNESCO in February 2003 seeking further inscription under the Natural Heritage and Cultural Landscapes categories in recognition of the outstanding heritage in the waters surrounding the islands and the unique example of Scottish history and culture that the islands represent. You can read further information about the revised bid, and find a link to the entire Nomination document on the Nomination page . http://www.kilda.org.uk/

Dress up warm, it gets very wet and very windy.

An area of central government north of the river. Made famous by the Palace of Westminster where the houses are parliament and, of course, the clock tower that houses the World famous bell called Big Ben. St Stephen's Tower is another tower midway through the palace and is sometimes confused with the clock tower. Most of the 'West End' of London, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, and the Royal Courts of Justice fall within the boundaries of the district. Many tourists who 'see' London just come here.

St. Andrews is a beautiful and traditional 'city' on the East coast of Scotland. It's city status is qualified by the ruined cathedral at the bottom of North Street. St. Andrews is basically three main streets and the connecting roads to these. 15th century University buildings feature throughout the city and there are laws governing the height and style of buildings, so it remains old-looking and pretty.

St. Andrews is the home of golf, with the world's first golf course, which hosts the famous Dunhill Cup championship. At this time of year you might catch a glimpse of some visiting celebrities.

There are lots of historic and scenic sites to visit in and around St. Andrews...Castle, Cathedral, Pier, Beach, sand dunes, University buildings, museum etc etc. St. Andrews has a large ratio of pubs and restaurants to other buildings so it's very easy to eat and drink here! The nightlife is bustling (with students) until about midnight, with more than 15 pubs to choose from across three streets. The student union is open later than this but only for students and their guests.

There are plenty of hotels and BBs but they are pricey! At the top end are the Golf Hotel (500 pounds a night rings a bell from when I was a student 7 years ago!). There are cheaper BBs in the nearby villages of Pitenweem and Anstruther.

St. Andrews is a little off the beaten track and doesn't have it's own railway station so the best bet is to train/fly to Edinburgh and get a coach (2 hours) or train and then a bus from Leuchars train station to St. Andrews. The bus station is very close to everything you would want to see in St. Andrews.

London is one of my favorite cities on the planet.

Here's what you need to do:

1. St. Paul’s Cathedral – beautiful building, awesome history. Go to evensong on Saturday night at 5:30ish (show up about 5 to get a good seat). It’s glorious.
2. Dinner in Chinatown – “The Friendly Inn” has amazing, authentic, Chinese food. I ate seaweed for the first time here – it’s an appetizer you can get with bread. Really good, actually.
3. St. James Park – It’s the park near the center of London that’s by Buckingham palace. The Pelicans and pigeons there are famous (a pelican attacked and ate a pigeon about two years ago – freakin’ awesome). But other than that, it’s just an amazingly beautiful park.
4. Whitehall/Houses of Parliament/Big Ben – a must see touristy area. Go here to get your picture taken with Big Ben, and see how sweet the UK’s government buildings are compared to the US’s.
5. Millennium Bridge – Awesome new(er) bridge by St. Paul’s. It’s featured in a lot of pictures of London and stuff, so it’s pretty awesome to walk across it.
6. The London Eye – it’s 14 pounds (about $30) to ride it, but so worth it. The view you get of London is beyond cool. And it’s about a ½ hour long, so it’s not like a short little ride that you overpaid for.
7. Hampton Court Palace – Just south of London, this was Henry the VIII’s second favorite palace (next to Whitehall, which no longer exists). It’s a mix of all sorts of styles of architecture (Tudor, Renaissance, and others). And it’s HUGE. Absolutely massive – you could spend a whole day just wandering around the grounds. This is famously where one of his wives went running to his private chapel before being taken to London to be beheaded. Crazy stuff. Plus, the gardens are gorgeous.
8. Speaker’s corner in Hyde Park – possibly my favorite place in all of London. Go here on a Sunday afternoon and listen to anyone and everyone giving a speech on all sorts of different topics. It’s an interesting exercise in freedom of speech and it is fascinating to listen to. When my dad and I went, we kind of just stumbled upon it and listened to one guy give a pro-Muslim, anti-Iraq War talk, right next to a guy who was talking about how Muslim terrorists are destroying the world. It’s also full of street preachers too, who are just fun to listen to.
9. Leicester Square – London’s theatre district. Gorgeous area at night. Whenever you see pictures from a movie premiere that happens in London, this is where it is. Also, you can get half-price theatre tickets at a lot of the booths around that area.
10. Piccadilly Circus – London’s Times Square. It’s just sweet.
11. Trafagalar Square/The National Gallery – Famous column of Lord Nelson, and the big lions that you can climb on. The art galleries at one end of the square are amazing…and free

oxford circus : it's a long street in london where u can find so many shops from luxury to budget, actually it is a complete place to shop. best place for shoppers!!! u can take the tube on bond street station or oxford circus station to get there. selfridge's : is a mall where u can find all the branded stuff from clothes to food to homeware. they have everything!!! located on oxford street. regent street : this is the extension of oxford street. there's a lot of shop. it's a long way....so prepare ur energy (^___^) picaddilly circus : u can take a picture of a cupid statue here. afterward u can go to china town. to get here take a tube to picaddilly circus station. Fortnum Mason : if u feel tired....go to this place to have an afternoon tea. place where u can find great tea, coffee, cookies and cakes. Buckingham Palace : this is where u can take picture of where the queen live. There is a parade on the selected time...u have to ask to the local. St James park : is the best park I've ever saw. u can enjoy the view and relax for a while after the long day. even u can have a picnic here. Trafalgar Square : u can take a picture of the famous statue here. afterwad u can take a walk to parliament street to take a picture of the horse guards and the government offices. take charing cross tube station. Big Ben : a famous clock tower, where the queen and the parliament work. u can walk through from the trafalgar square. River thames : take a pose and smile here for a picture. just accross from big ben. london eye : try it! u can see the whole london from here. it's like a marrygoround but it's bigger n like a capsule. near the river thames. covent garden : place for people who like arts so much. there are performances every weekend especially on sunday. to get here take tube to covent garden station. harrords : place for shopper....similar with selfridge's.

Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians but are also known as " Scousers " , in reference to the local dish known as " scouse " , a form of stew. The word "Scouse" has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect. Liverpool's status as a port city has contributed to its diverse population, which draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, particularly those from Ireland. The popularity of The Beatles and the other groups from the Merseybeat era contributes to Liverpool's status as a tourist destination; tourism forms a significant part of the city's modern economy. In 2007 the city celebrated its 800th anniversary , and in 2008 it held the European Capital of Culture title together with Stavanger, Norway. In 2004, Liverpool's waterfront was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site , reflecting the city's importance in the development of the world's trading system and dock technology . The docks are central to Liverpool's history, with the best-known being Albert Dock : the first enclosed, non-combustible dock warehouse system in the world and is built in cast iron, brick and stone. It was designed by Jesse Hartley . Restored in the 1980s, the Albert Dock has the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in Britain. Part of the old dock complex is now the home to the Merseyside Maritime Museum (an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage), the International Slavery Museum and the Tate Liverpool . Other relics of the dock system include the Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse , which at the time of its construction in 1901, was the world's largest building in terms of area, and is still the world's largest brick-work building. Also the ill-fated passenger liner RMS Titanic was registered in Liverpool. The Pier Head is the most famous image of Liverpool, the location of the Three Graces (a fairly recent phrase), three of Liverpool's most recognisable buildings. As to transportation Liverpool has trains, trams, buses, ferry and the airport (It was renamed Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2001). Also lots of opportunities for sport, music and night life lovers :)